Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Health Costs For Millions Who Buy Coverage Through ACA Exchanges Could Go Up Under CMS’ Proposed Rule

The proposed rules are necessary to cut inflated subsidies for people buying coverage on the exchanges, CMS officials said. But Democrats view the plan as one more way the Trump administration is chipping away at the health law.

The Associated Press:
Trump Administration Proposes Higher 'Obamacare' Premiums
The Trump administration on Thursday announced proposed rule changes that would lead to a modest premium increase next year under the Affordable Care Act, potentially handing Democrats a new presidential-year health care issue. The roughly 1 percent increase could feed into the Democratic argument that the Trump administration is trying to "sabotage" coverage for millions. The administration said the proposal is intended to improve the accuracy of a complex formula that affects what consumers pay for their premiums. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 1/17)

The Wall Street Journal:
Trump’s Proposed ACA Rules Could Lift Costs For Millions Of People
The proposal, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, would raise the out-of-pocket maximum that people with employer-sponsored coverage pay in 2020. The individual maximum would increase by $200 to $8,200 annually, and the maximum for family coverage would increase by $400, analysts said. The plan would also change a calculation that determines how much people pay if they buy insurance from the ACA exchange and get credits to reduce their monthly premiums. The change could raise premiums next year for many of the roughly 9 million people who get the credit. (Armour, 1/17)

Modern Healthcare:
CMS Wants To Cut ACA Exchange Fees, End Silver-Loading
The CMS also noted that the Trump administration supports a legislative solution that would appropriate funding for cost-sharing reduction payments, which the administration ended in 2017. It also supports ending the practice of "silver-loading." The agency asked stakeholders to comment on ways the federal government might address silver-loading in future rules no sooner than 2021. Silver-loading refers to when health insurers loaded premium increases into the popular silver-level exchange plans to make up for the loss of CSR payments. Loading premium surcharges onto silver plans boosted the size of the premium tax credits available to people with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty level. (Livingston, 1/17)